It all started with a few puppets and a bunch of kids.
Back in 1974, Greenwich Village mask maker and puppeteer Ralph Lee threw together a little Halloween procession for his children and their friends, winding out from the Westbeth artists’ building in the far West Village.
No permits, no barricades, no TV cameras. Just homemade puppets and some very excited kids.
Fast forward 52 years, and that little neighborhood walk has become the world’s largest Halloween parade. It’s also the only major nighttime parade in the US.
And this year, it arrives on a Saturday, just a few days away!
On October 31, the 53rd Village Halloween Parade will take over Sixth Avenue with giant puppets, marching bands and tens of thousands of New Yorkers in the craziest costumes you’ll ever see.
It’s free to watch, free to attend it, and free to enjoy! Here’s everything you need to know.
The world’s largest Halloween parade, by the numbers
This thing is massive and its honor of “world’s largest” is not an understatement.
The parade reports around 50,000 costumed participants and up to 2 million spectators in a typical year, and in 2024 more than 65,000 people marched.
It seems to be a tradition that keeps getting bigger every single year. Tons and tons of New Yorkers flooding the downtown Manhattan streets to celebrate the spookiest day of the year. And it being on a weekend this year — it’s only expected to be even more than normal.
What’s new this year
The 2026 theme is “Body & Soul,” and the parade calls on New York to put down the screens and let its collective soul move.
Leading the whole procession is Firehorse!, a brand-new performance featuring dancing puppet horses by Basil Twist, a nod to the Year of the Horse.
And this year’s grand marshal is downtown icon Joey Arias, the cabaret singer and performance artist who’s basically Village royalty.
How to march in the parade
Here’s the best part: anyone in costume can march, for free.
No registration, no tickets. Just show up looking spooky!
- Lineup: head to Sixth Avenue and Canal Street between 6:30 pm and 9 pm. You’ll need to enter from the east and south sides, via Sullivan Street, East Broome Street or Canal Street.
- Start time: the parade steps off at 7 pm, rain or shine, and marchers are released onto the route in groups.
- The golden rule: costumes are mandatory. No costume, no marching.
- Pro tip: meet your crew a block or two away before heading to the lineup. With that many people (and spotty cell service), finding friends in the crowd is a nightmare.
Where to watch
Not marching? Grab a spot anywhere along Sixth Avenue between King Street and West 15th Street. The parade’s own viewing info and the city’s listing describe the route slightly differently, but it all happens on Sixth Avenue.
- Get there early. The stretch between Bleecker Street and 14th Street draws the biggest crowds, so arrive well before 7 pm, or head farther north or south for more elbow room.
- Pick a side and stick with it. Barricades line Sixth Avenue, so crossing mid-parade is basically impossible. Heading east afterward? Watch from the east side, near the 6 at Bleecker Street or the F at Broadway-Lafayette.
- Watching from the couch? Spectrum News NY1 is carrying the parade live from 8 pm.
Street closures and getting there
Expect Sixth Avenue to be closed to traffic for most of the evening. The parade runs from 7 pm to 11 pm, with closures around the lineup area near Canal Street, along the route, and at the dispersal area north of 15th Street.
Skip the car. Parking is brutal on parade night, so take the subway and give yourself extra time.
Make a whole day of it
Since Halloween falls on a Saturday this year, the fun starts way before the parade.
There are plenty of Halloween activities and events happening around NYC that can lead you straight to the parade area in the evening.
Plus, the parade’s official after-party “Vampire Ball” returns again to Industry City in Brooklyn for a late-night dance with several DJs to keep the party going all night long.
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